This time last year, I issued a radical challenge to us all.  I suggested that we treat our Christmas celebration like the birthday party it is intended to be and actually give Jesus a birthday present.  Weird, right?  (If you’d like to read it, you can find that post here.)

For my gift, I decided I would start a gratitude journal.  2015 was going to be a big year for me and God, and I couldn’t wait to record in my pretty new journal all of our wonderful adventures together.  I had just launched my new blog and was looking forward to a year of intense spiritual study and revelation.  I was ready for the best year of my life.

Instead, 2015 was, without question, the worst year of my life. Continue reading →

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Dear God,

There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while now, and I really need to talk to you about it.

You know that I love you with everything that I am.  Nothing will ever change that.

But I need you to know that right now I am very disappointed with you. Continue reading →

When I was a little girl in Sunday school, we used to sing:

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never soar o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army

I never gave much thought to the lyrics back then.  Are Christians supposed to be at war?  Pondering that question in light of scripture, the answer is clear.  Yes, we certainly are. Continue reading →

Today, in honor of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Christians were asked to fast and pray for their brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted because of their faith. I’ll confess that when I first heard the request, I cringed a little inside. I readily respond to a request for prayer, but I’m not much of a faster. I don’t deny myself much of anything in the way of physical comfort, and that includes food. Continue reading →